by
NARR (:33):
LeRoy Myers wore many hats: he was an actor, a singer, a tap dancer and a community activist. He worked with people like BB King, Ella Fitzgerald, and Savion Glover.
In 1949, Myers helped create a tap group called the Copasetics. Tap dancers came together every Thursday night at a small, dark club on 125th street called Showmans. Showmans still exists today.
SOT: MICHELA (:07):
In-cue: My name is...
Out-cue: ...and I'm a tap dancer.
AMB (:05): Michela tapping
NARR (:09):
Michela has been coming to Showmans since she was 11 years old Jun Maruta is a Japanese scientist who has also been coming to Showmans for years and years and years.
SOT: JUN (:12):
In-cue: I found out about the tap jam at Showmans...
Out-cue:...standing, as always.
SOT: MICHELA (:05):
In-cue: He'd lean on the bar...
Out-cue: ...foot up on the stool
SOT: JOE (:48):
In-cue: LeRoy Myers? I grew up...
Out-cue: ...a big brother to me, actually.
NARR (:10):
Joe Wilder, a trumpet player and childhood friend Myers'. Joe told me a little bit about what it meant for Myers to be a black entertainer in Harlem in the 1930s and 40s.
SOT: JOE (:29)
In-cue: He used to wear blackface.
Out-cue: ...get somebody else, and that was it.
NARR (:21):
When Myers died, a group of Harlem residents decided to try to convince the city of NY that the corner of Myers' street should be renamed "Myers corner." The Community Board gave the go-ahead, and so did the City Council. Jun Maruta threw all of his energies into making sure that the street-naming was a success.
SOT: JUN (:07):
In-cue: He had an apartment...
Out-cue: ..would have been able to see that.
NARR (:07):
Before he died, Myers made sure that his legacy of tap dancing and community service would live on.
SOT: JUN (:20):
In-cue: So LeRoy, LeRoy, this might have been when...
Out-cue: ...the name "the Copasetics connection."
NARR (:18):
The sign will go up on 122nd street and Manhattan Avenue on March 11th of 2006. On noon of that day, there will be a big street party. Six drummers will drum, and the Copasetics connection tap dancers will dance. Cordelia Myers, niece of LeRoy Myers, will be one of the drummers on March 11th.
SOT: Cordy (:08):
In-cue: Doing the drum thing...
Out-cue: ...and learn who he is.
AMB: up Cory drumming